Saturday Morning Thread: Helping Our Heroes [Y-not]

One of the nice things about living in the Utah is the extent to which patriotism is on display. There seems to be a color guard at nearly every civic event and I think I've recited the Pledge of Allegiance more times in my five years here than I had in the previous twenty-five years of my adulthood.

Gov. Herbert signed a one-year resolution during the 2014 legislative session designating Thurs. July 3, 2014 as "Call Your Military Hero Day" in Utah. The resolution urged Utah's citizens and military personnel to strengthen bonds of friendship with military veterans and active duty servicemembers.

OREM -- Seventy years after his first missions, the candy bomber struck again Friday afternoon. Gail Halvorsen dropped 1,000 chocolate bars to anxious kids below at Scera Park in Orem.

Halvorsen first made headlines when he delivered candy to children in Berlin at the end of World War II by dropping parachute sweets. Friday's candy drop was reminiscent of his historic flights during the Berlin airlift decades ago.

He flew over our house several times yesterday, although the candy drop itself was a couple of miles from our home. Pretty cool.

As it so happens, my husband's home town in Western Massachusetts is semi-famous for its Fourth of July parade. Mr Y-not's dad was always involved in the parade in some way through his American Legion post's activities. Here's a video of the parade from a couple of years ago:

Nice!

So I thought today that we could spend a little time talking about how to honor and serve the men and women of our military, past and present, who have served all of us so well.

With so many charities engaged in these endeavors you may wonder how you can find one to trust to spend your money wisely. To assist you we've compiled this list of charities supporting soldiers and their families. These organizations provide various services from lifting the troops' morale to financial assistance for food, rent, utilities and medical expenses.

Charity Navigator's ratings run from 4 stars down to 0 stars. Their system focuses on the financial health of the organization and their accountability and transparency. It is just one method for evaluating charities (and it has its flaws), but overall I think it's a helpful one.

If you're interested in learning more about the distinction, you might find this column that appeared last month in The Chronicle of Philanthropy helpful. The author wrote it to try to clear up confusion about the Clinton Foundation. Despite the fact that I loathe the Clinton Foundation with the red hot intensity of a thousand suns, I think that this article is worth reading. It was not intended as a defense of the CF so much as an explanation how to evaluate the financial statements put out by non-profits. A short except below:

Although it has "foundation" in its name, the Clinton Foundation is actually a public charity. In practical terms, this means both that it relies heavily on donations from the public and that it achieves its mission primarily by using those donations to conduct direct charitable activities, as opposed to providing grants from an endowment.

Failure to understand the difference led to the widespread claim (covered by the New York Post, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, and others) that only a small portion of Clinton Foundation spending goes toward charity. While measuring charitable endeavors by the amount of grants awarded may be appropriate for many private foundations, it is not for an organization that acts as a direct service provider like the Clinton Foundation.

(None of this changes the sleezeball nature of the Clintons' sleezeball organizations, but I still think there are valid points in this article.)

Although Independence Day is not strictly speaking a holiday "for" (or about) members of the military (or veterans), I thought it might be nice to talk about which organizations you support and/or which ones those of you who are veterans find the most helpful (or enjoyable). To get the discussion started, I thought that this column that appeared at This Ain't Hell last year was interesting. In it, Jonn Lilyea responds to the claim that VSOs (Veterans Service organizations) like the VFW and American Legion are out of touch with the needs of younger veterans. He goes on to make the case for the benefits of membership in VSOs.

What has been your experience?

What do you plan to do this weekend to celebrate our freedoms and to honor the men and women who protect them?

5
I live in New Jersey, an upscale community which has voted for Obama solidly. There are about 20 homes on my street. Currently, only 4 homes have their flags up. Which tells you everything you need to know about liberals/Jersey.

Posted by: Sid Vicious at July 04, 2015 08:52 AM (UW3fL)

6
Not the book burning thread, but the banning thread. NASCAR us probably going to have to ban the flag, just telling people not to display it won't work.

Posted by: Colin at July 04, 2015 08:53 AM (WQLtV)

7
In the spirit of the day, in remembrance of those brave men who wrote our Declaration, to any Leftists who are fool enough to come around here: Fuck off and die, you mendacious totalitarian ball washers.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at July 04, 2015 08:54 AM (HalrA)

Finished reading comments in the last thread too late to say hello there. Hello here.

Most days, I wake up furiously enraged about my life or the world or both. (Cue Bruce Banner in the Avengers movie: I'll tell you my secret...) By the time I'm up, dressed, and focused on the computer screen, I tend to be over the worst of it, or at least have it under control. Today, I just can't seem to shake it. This is probably not good.

ICYMI:
Happy 4th of July Eve!
That special season of the year
(comment from yesterday when I was cheerier, reposted dressed up and illustrated)
http://bit.ly/merry-4th-2015

The Berlin Airlift started in 1948. That is NOT the end of World War II which was May 9th, 1945 in Europe.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 04, 2015 08:56 AM (tBwwp)

11 it achieves its mission primarily by using those donations to conduct direct charitable activities

And those would be...?

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at July 04, 2015 08:56 AM (oVJmc)

12
The 'charitable activities' of the Clinton Foundation are the speeches given by Clintons to bestow upon the ignorant, the benevolent wisdom of the Clinton family, for which they are paid large sums of money.

Posted by: Tommy Linkbetter at July 04, 2015 08:57 AM (m2+KV)

13
The Russians were just doing to Germany what the Fourth Reich is now doing to Greece.

15
Any problems here, just call this guy, his title is long enough, he must be important!

Dr. John
Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and
Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Posted by: Colin at July 04, 2015 08:59 AM (WQLtV)

16
My father-in-law passed away 9 years ago. IIRC, he mentioned that my husband (who is not a veteran) could join the American Legion as the son of a member/veteran. Does anyone know if this is true? Has anyone done this?

I like the American Legion a lot. It seems as if they do a good job advocating for veterans, while also delivering programs that help instill good American values in young people. Mr Y-not's dad and mom used to spend a lot of time volunteering to put on the Boys State civics camp each year. Seemed like a great program:

17
My father-in-law passed away 9 years ago. IIRC, he mentioned that my husband (who is not a veteran) could join the American Legion as the son of a member/veteran. Does anyone know if this is true? Has anyone done this?

I like the American Legion a lot. It seems as if they do a good job advocating for veterans, while also delivering programs that help instill good American values in young people. Mr Y-not's dad and mom used to spend a lot of time volunteering to put on the Boys State civics camp each year. Seemed like a great program:

We should probably do that - and donate to the American Legion's Boys State program - as soon as we get our financial house in order. Going through some big changes at Casa Y-not right now, but things should be better by winter.

And yet, the town is festooned with flags and bunting, private residences and public spaces alike. The Fourth is a Very Big Deal here.
---

Nothing quite like a small New England town adorned with flags and bunting. Those sorts of folks are so frustrating because it seems as if they really don't get how destructive the politicians they keep electing are to this country.

There are always a ton of flags in our neighborhood on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Independence Day... which is great, except that our dumb rough collie HATES waving flags. We keep telling her it's not patriotic to bark maniacally at the Stars and Stripes, but she doesn't listen.

34Flying the American Flag after public personalities have made the claim that the US Flag is a flag of oppression exactly like the Confederate flag makes it difficult to fly the flag even today.

I live in an isolated gated community with 36 houses. We put a small flag in every yard in the neighborhood, and many have their own as well. One guy has the community flag, his own U.S. flag and a Confederate flag working.

Posted by: Blacksheep at July 04, 2015 09:09 AM (bS6uW)

35Flying the American Flag after public personalities have made the claim that the US Flag is a flag of oppression exactly like the Confederate flag makes it difficult to fly the flag even today.

I live in an isolated gated community with 36 houses. We put a small flag in every yard in the neighborhood, and many have their own as well. One guy has the community flag, his own U.S. flag and a Confederate flag working.

37
My wife and I ( the kids deserted us this 4th) are going for a traditional 4TH of July meal- well Jewish 4TH at least-- Chinese Food. Not my choice, my Wife's but remember if the Wife ain't Happy, ain't nobody Happy!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at July 04, 2015 09:10 AM (/tNwW)

38
One guy has the community flag, his own U.S. flag and a Confederate flag working.
---

A lot of flags in our neighborhood. No Confederate flags, but some Utah state flags, Marine flags, and Gadsden flags.

45
That Utah Governor sounds like another hypocritical politician who uses another fake holiday to drum up support from dumb voters by pretending to be "patriotic" and "for the vets". When the ass clown calls, tell him to stick it in his ass. Tell him to take one of his family down to an induction center and sign their ass up for a tour of duty if he feels so god damn patriotic and stop waste tax payers money trolling for votes.

Punishment. We have been directly Ordered NOT to appear in public in our Uniforms. We are suppose to hide under our beds and even take off all distinguishing stickers from our cars. because of ISIS ya know. And I am not kidding

Posted by: Nevergiveup at July 04, 2015 09:22 AM (/tNwW)

52
Drudge has a link to a story in the FT that Greek banks are preparing to raid depositor's accounts to recapitalize. I wouldn't try that with an armed populace.

Wanting to return the country to a constitutional federal republic like the day they was born!

Posted by: Kreplach at July 04, 2015 09:23 AM (VvoVZ)

54
To celebrate Independence Day, we're going to Mass in an hour, to join with our neighbors to give thanks to God that we live in America, and to pray for our nation.

Then, I will cut the grass and weed the vegetable garden: the weather is gorgeous today (bright sun, cool breeze, high in the low 70s), and working in the garden on such a day is a great pleasure. Then, we'll pull out the weber, burn some dried wood from our late apple tree down to coals, then grill three ribeyes that I bought yesterday at the neighborhood butcher. We'll eat them with steamed garden veggies, washed down with a lovely cote du rhone (sorry, but there's some things the French still do best). After that, I plan to relax and read and simply savor the day.

Oh, and we put out the flag. The "celebrities" who claim that it's a flag of oppression and racism can kiss my ass.

Posted by: Broqn Line at July 04, 2015 09:24 AM (a5bF3)

55
I wouldn't try that with an armed populace.
Posted by: pep at July 04, 2015 09:23 AM (LAe3v)

57
Okay, let me try to be more on-topic this time. A bit of news from the old home town:

...The "Street of Honor" is the personal project of local resident Bob Hunley, a 64-year-old retired Army sergeant.

Since moving here from Virginia four years ago, the wheelchair-bound veteran has painstakingly put out more than 100 flags along his street. The displays are created before Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans' Day.

"I didn't have nearly as many of the flags when I started," Hunley said Tuesday. "Last Friday, we put 180 of them up."...

64
I sure hope that my fellow NASCAR fans will show the mewling quims that run that sport that they refuse to be cowed by the SJW's who can somehow draw a direct line between some nutcase and the CBF. I hope to see them aplenty at the races down here.

Had the kids over yesterday. SIL is a lefty who voted for TFG, and even he's pissed at what's happening. Fortunately, conservative DIL keeps him in line. You should've heard her rant against it.

Did my heart proud, it did. And it comforts me greatly knowing that my Little G'Dette is being well raised.

I'm not all that knowlegable regarding Navy awards, but his uniform looks jacked up.

Posted by: SMFH at it all at July 04, 2015 09:28 AM (kmtse)

Ya that's a hot one. Sigh.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at July 04, 2015 09:31 AM (/tNwW)

Holy sh*t....starting to look like one of those North Korean generals with a whole chest full of medals....

Posted by: Colin at July 04, 2015 09:34 AM (WQLtV)

73
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

It's my subtle/not so subtle way of voicing my displeasure to the world.

Posted by: Kreplach at July 04, 2015 09:35 AM (VvoVZ)

76
15 houses in our development, my house is the only one with the flag out. Front and back. Celebrating with dim sum for lunch. Husband just brought out the first national flag of the confederacy that looks similar to the NC state flag.

Posted by: NCKate at July 04, 2015 09:35 AM (bP6xm)

77
Four months into 28 years, now an undercover CIA agent (So he says on his Facebook page).

Amazing.

Posted by: SMFH at it all at July 04, 2015 09:35 AM (kmtse)

78
"And yet, the town is festooned with flags and
bunting, private residences and public spaces alike. The Fourth is a
Very Big Deal here.

89
Ya know I don't get these guys who feel the need to phone up their Uniforms. I respect anyone who signed on the line even if all they have is "The National Defense" ribbon. That is still a hell of a lot more than 96% of the American Public. We had a DR in my Unit who had 3 phony ribbons on her Uniform and I had great joy in ripping her a new one. But in her Defense, she is usually in La La land

Posted by: Nevergiveup at July 04, 2015 09:39 AM (/tNwW)

90
Look at all those hash marks and he only made E-6. I made E-6 before I went over 6.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 04, 2015 09:36 AM (GpgJl)

I guess the local pawn shop must have been bought out of all the medals.I can't believe someone would try this, with the internet to look things up.

Posted by: Colin at July 04, 2015 09:41 AM (WQLtV)

91
"82
I'm trying to find a Patriotic Movie on TV and the closest I can come is "The Graduate" and "Airplane"?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at July 04, 2015 09:36 AM (/tNwW)"

Maybe you would like some music that appropriately responds to those who have brought us to this state of affairs.

According to Lt. Worf and the leftist goons, giving chocolate to kids is a felony requiring a lifetime registration and being barred from coming within 1000 feet of any school, ever again.

Asked about this, Lt. Worf grunted, "We will jail anyone distributing chocolate. They should have dropped ears of corn on those kids. We are fueling up Air Farce One and we're going to go drop 2 tons of corn on top of the first group of children we spot."

103
The 'charitable activities' of the Clinton Foundation are the speeches given by Clintons to bestow upon the ignorant, the benevolent wisdom of the Clinton family, for which they are paid large sums of money.
______________________

The foundation's "charitable" activities in Haiti haven't done the Haitians any good -- at least according to them. But it probably got the foundation some nice U.S. tax advantages . . . .

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at July 04, 2015 09:49 AM (kGrdk)

104
Interesting, here is a PDF about the Candy Bomber. It seems aimed at elementary school kids. But still is nifty and informative.

Very large aerials are legal here, except close to public lands (b/c of fire hazards). We're just a couple of blocks short of the No Fireworks zone... sadly... so last night was quite noisy. My older collie does not like fireworks, so she got to sleep in bed with me.

Tonight will be worse so we'll put her Thundershirt on. It does seem to help her.

Charitable organization accounting allows for a very flexible definition of "operating costs",

unless you are a Christian or Conservative charity!

Posted by: Hrothgar at July 04, 2015 09:59 AM (ftVQq)

118
That's the third reminder of protecting our pets I've seen today. Had it brought home late Thursday evening when we were leaving to pick up or son at the airport. A local community was having their firework show and with the clouds the noise was really loud. Saw a puppy running down our busy road, with cars slowing down to avoid her. She gratefully jumped into our car while we called the owner (who was at the firework show). She went through a screen, over or under a locked gate and was desperately searching for her family. Poor baby, now safe at home with a tearfully thankful family. Watch your furry friends tonight, they just don't understand.

Happy Fourth morons, thanks for keeping a little corner of sanity in these insane times.

Posted by: RedDish at July 04, 2015 10:02 AM (5eXg1)

119
The US flag is not the flag of my country. My country was a constitutional republic. This country is not a constitutional republic.

Posted by: Cloyd Freud, Unemployed at July 04, 2015 10:02 AM (YFw5T)

120
So the Clinton Foundation is a direct service provider. Exactly who are they providing service to and what is that service? And help running the Clinton Library doesn't count.

Posted by: Cruzinator at July 04, 2015 10:03 AM (4SgJh)

121
After the liberation of Rome in 1944 my Dad's unit was pulled from the line for rest and refit. Written in his diary while in bivouac along the coast of Italy near Rome on this day in 1944:

The EZ Dog Diaries

July 4, 1944
"Independence Day"! No great celebrations like we have in the States - In fact outside a few inebriated souls there was very little indication of any thing out of the ordinary. The report has it that every American artillery piece now in use against the Krauts was fired at noon as sort of a demonstration for liberty.

Another trip to Salerno today. This time to look over a Shore Fire Control Party school being conducted by Seventh Army. I'll probably be spending quite a bit of time down there, because the General seems pretty concerned with it.

News from the Russian front really sounds good. All those "tsk" towns have fallen - Pinsk, Minsk, Polotsk, etc - and in the ten days since the drive started the Red troops are 1/4 of the way to Berlin.

Posted by: Muldoon, a solid man at July 04, 2015 10:03 AM (mvenn)

122
My little town will have about 100 mounted trail riders. It's a casual affair with every race and blend represented, unified as People of the Horse.

129
It is a waste of time to be patriotic till God intervenes. Anything now will be twisted to serve obamanation. The current thinking is God's intervention will become apparent to all in September. Everyone stock up on food and water please. Historically those two items are in short supply during such events. Remember the joke about "red ink shortage" in USSR.

131
Scrubbing out the grill right now. It's been so crummy, weather-wise, this will be the first time we've used it. Steaks, corn on the cob, watermelon and homemade potato salad. Pretty standard.

Went to the ChiSox game last night. We had a great time. Sox actually won, we were in a great section with awesome actual baseball fans and lots of diversity and the young black guy sitting next to me gave me a high ten after the fireworks and a "'murica, yeah!" And tears actually came to my eyes because this is the way it should be and we let them divide us.

133
My current doggehs get scared even when it rains now, but we used to have a badass blue heeler who would attack fireworks. She'd run up and try to bite the Black cats and bottle rockets we would play with. Next day we saw that her whiskers were all curled up from being singed. What a great dog. Not the brightest dog ever born, but real kickass.

Posted by: stace at July 04, 2015 12:21 PM (+sO7w)

134
Some of the state-specific USO's get higher rankings than the national USO, probably because they can piggy back on the name recognition of the national organization and don't have to spend as much on fundraising. Disappointed to see the national org only gets two stars, but I'm not aware of any other organization that does what they do on the scale they do it. As such, I'm still a proud supporter of the USO..